My 'new' 1967 Triumph Herald 1200

Wyvern

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
591
Location
Loughton, Essex
Car(s)
Triumph Herald 1200, in need of arse transplant
This is my new car. I've wanted a Herald 1200 convertible for as long as I can remember, and as I'm actually going to take my driving test in about 6 weeks time, I thought I may as well start looking. About a fortnight ago, I was mooching about on eBay and I found this one...

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Not only was it the model I was looking for, but it was in Bournemouth, where coincidentally I was going to be the weekend of the auction (there was an air show last weekend). I don't really do the 'fate' thing, but if ever there was a sign, I figured that was it, so I got to have a look at it.

It's a really good one. It runs nicely, gets used a lot, mechanically it's very sound (no recs on the MOT two months ago) and the bodywork's pretty good for a 42 year old car. It needs one or two cosmetic bits, and I can't be doing without wing mirrors, but I'm very chuffed as I paid for it yesterday. I just hope my friend manages to get it back to London for me in one piece!

I'll be getting some practice in for my test now. I'm going to miss synchromesh but I'm sure I'll get used to it...

And yes, it's called Gerald, but that wasn't my fault - it was the name the lady I bought it from gave it and it has kind of stuck...
 
Very cool. Looks like a fun little car. Congrats!
 
This is very cool! Congratulations on becoming the owner of a classic little car. :)
 
Do the 1500swap from a Spitfire :) Anyway, I don't know what it is with those cars and women, every girl thinks the Herald is the cutest car in the world
 
Gerard instead of Gerald would be more apt, since, you know, having no wing mirrors is a bit Spartan, equipment-wise.
 
Do the 1500swap 289 swap from a Spitfire Cobra :) Anyway, I don't know what it is with those cars and women, every girl thinks the Herald is the cutest car in the world


FTFY :mrgreen:
 
Oh that is so worth getting your license! If I didn't already drive, I'd learn just for that car. Congrats!
 
Mmmmm classic convertible. And a good one at that. Congratulations!
 
Sweet little thing.
 
Oh that is so worth getting your license! If I didn't already drive, I'd learn just for that car. Congrats!

Very true, this is really the best motivation to pull through those last weeks! :)

Very nice classic, and it really looks like a good example at that. :thumbup:
 
congrats on the herald every one should eventually buy the car of their dreams.
 
Beautiful car...
 
Welcome to the world of classic British motoring! Looks like it is in good nick.
 
My dad got his licence with a green Herald, back in the day. He also tried to turn it into a convertible, but my granddad stopped him in time. =P
Also, to disguise just how far he and his friends went with the car, he disconnected the odometer cable every now and then.. :mrgreen:
 
Thanks for all the positive comments :D

I've had a very interesting introduction to the world of classic British motoring... late last night, Gerald decided it didn't like the look of the M25... at least, its big end didn't fancy it. Got it home at midnight on the back of an AA truck! Sounds like a bloody tractor at the moment, but is still running so hopefully a complete engine rebuild won't be necessary...

On the plus side, though, it took 40 minutes for my friend to get out of Popham services last night, not because there was anything wrong at that point (was running brilliantly right up until the point the big end went without warning...) but because people kept stopping to talk about the car!

I don't feel brave enough to tackle a job that big just yet (funnily enough, replacing the whole engine seems less daunting), and I'm having a bugger of a job sourcing the right Haynes manual, though obviously I already have the restoration manual on order, so I'm going to have to find a specialist to sort it out this time. I'm not too despondent though - it's a 42 year old British car, of course something was going to fall apart! Would have been nice if I could have driven it a bit before it went, but c'est la vie and all that. I was toying with the idea of having the engine overhauled anyway because it's one of the few major jobs that hasn't been done in the last 3 years, but I wasn't planning on doing it just yet :rolleyes:

PS: My car is in no way 'girly' ;)
 
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I am in a bit of a terminology mess here: What do you mean by "big end"? What broke? As the owner of a classic car that has not run a mile in over twelve months i feel with you very much...
 
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